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Ascension 2026: a week to listen to God, grow in creativity, and connect with other artists.
Ascension 2026: a week to listen to God, grow in creativity, and connect with other artists.
The program
The program
Five days from May 12th to 17th, 2026 – limited space for only forty participants
Five days from May 12th to 17th, 2026 – limited space for only forty participants
La Fonderie is offering a creative retreat for artists during Ascension week in 2026. The week takes place in the southwest of France from May 12th to 17th. It is hosted by the YWAM-Arts and La Fonderie teams, in both English and French.
The aim of the retreat is to take time apart to listen to God and connect with other artists who are interested in the interactions between art and faith.
The number of participants is expected to be around 40, plus speakers and supervisors.
The week commences Tuesday, May 12th, with a welcome evening and introductory dinner at 6 p.m. Each morning will start with a time of meditation, followed by group training. In the afternoons there will be creative workshops. Optional activities will be hosted in the evenings for the night owls – film screenings and other relaxing activities.
The week then concludes on Sunday, May 17th after our farewell lunch. Departure times are from approximately 2 p.m.
Prepared for the occasion and designed by our chef, meals together are an integral part of the retreat. Lunch and dinner will be shared around the table together each day.
The registration fee for the week is €350 per person, which includes the cost of speakers, team, meals and workshop materials. Accommodation and travel to the site are not included in this fee.
Accommodation prices change depending on room options provided on site. There is limited availability of each room type with rates from €50 to €150 for the entire stay depending on you choice. A few single rooms are available on request for those who have a particular need to stay alone, as well as rooms with double beds for couples.
The four types of accommodation available are:
1. single room
2. shared room in one of the estate's lodgings (2-3 people per room)
3. shared room in a mobile home on the estate grounds
4. camping on site.
We will do the best to accommodate your preference. Confirmation of your room choice will be done through email after your registration.
Shuttles can be arranged to pick you up at the nearest train station in Tonneins (47) on the Bordeaux-Toulouse line.
TYPICAL DAY
TYPICAL DAY
Creative week, May 12-17, 2026
Creative week, May 12-17, 2026
A creative ans spiritual retreat for artists.
A creative ans spiritual retreat for artists.
BREAKFAST
BREAKFAST
9-9:45 a.m.: Worship
10-10:45 a.m.: Meditation
11-12:30 p.m.: Teaching
9-9:45 a.m.: Worship
10-10:45 a.m.: Meditation
11-12:30 p.m.: Teaching
LUNCH
2:30-5:30 p.m.: Workshop
5:30-6:30 p.m.: Collaborative creation
LUNCH
2:30-5:30 p.m.: Workshop
5:30-6:30 p.m.: Collaborative creation
DINNER
DINNER
8 p.m.: Relaxing activity
9:30 p.m.: End of the day
8 p.m.: Relaxing activity
9:30 p.m.: End of the day
INTERVENANTS
INTERVENANTS
André
André
André Coetzee is a South African minister with a passion for the prophetic and the arts. As the founder of the WIP (Worship, Intercession, and Prophetic) initiative and co-founder of the biannual WIP school in Vézénobres, France. André combines his extensive training in the prophetic as well as multiple disciplines within the performing and fine arts.
Noémie
Noémie
Originally from Quebec, Noémie Pons has been living in France since she joined her husband B.R. A painter specializing in ink on canvas or paper in monotype, she regularly opens her studio and offers creative and spiritual retreats to introduce people to abstraction and inner dialogue.
Jaime
Jaime
Jaime Flor (pronounced “Rahimé”), a professional dancer originally from Colombia, has been living in France for 20 years, where he runs a Parisian art gallery with his wife alongside his dancing career.
Jaime will be holding a workshop on physical expression.
Grace
Grace
An Australian missionary living in France, Grace Hatting works with YWAM and leads writing workshops.
Etienne
Etienne
Étienne Volery is a multidisciplinary artist: painter, engraver, sculptor, wedding ring designer, and land artist. In Switzerland, he is president of the ARTERS association.
Fredrik
Fredrik
Fredrik Schikora, half French and half Norwegian, works at Youth With A Mission Cévennes. A lover of opera and music, he enjoys worship and being in the presence of the Lord.
Steve
Steve
Our chef for this creative week is the Fonderie's long-standing chef, Steven Wilson, a New Zealander who lived in France for many years before settling in London.
Caleb
Caleb
Caleb Georgiades, 36 years old from South Africa. He has been living and traveling, working and serving as an artist and metal worker through Europe for the last 12 years. Exploring, discovering and sharing God's voice in the language of art has been his main vision and focus since being born again in art school in 2011.
Stephanie
Stephanie
Originally from Singapore, Stephanie Low moved to France in 2016 as a missionary with Youth With A Mission. Apart from her work in international Christian missions, she is also a musician, poet, and creative. Particularly inspired by nature, faith, and the arts, much of her work contemplates life in the face of the eternal.
Richard
Richard
Born in Colombia, Richard Duarte grew up in Venezuela before spending seven years with YWAM France, where he met his wife, with whom he has three daughters.
Trained in counseling, Richard is also a painter, and his passion is teaching biblical truths.
TESTIMONIALS
TESTIMONIALS
THE VENUE
THE VENUE
1h20 from Toulouse & Bordeaux
1h20 from Toulouse & Bordeaux
The estate offers four types of accommodation: rooms, cottages, mobile homes, and camping pitches. You will find more details in the registration form below.
The estate offers four types of accommodation: rooms, cottages, mobile homes, and camping pitches. You will find more details in the registration form below.
REGISTRATION
REGISTRATION
The registration fee is €350 per person for the 5 days (including meals, materials, supervision by the team, and meeting room rental). This does not include your accommodation (from €50 to €150 for the entire stay, depending of your choice of accommodation) and your transportation to the site.
The registration fee is €350 per person for the 5 days (including meals, materials, supervision by the team, and meeting room rental). This does not include your accommodation (from €50 to €150 for the entire stay, depending of your choice of accommodation) and your transportation to the site.
To register, you need to fill out a single document: the pre-registration form. Subject to availability, we will then send you a link to pay online so that you're registration will be completed.
To register, you need to fill out a single document: the pre-registration form. Subject to availability, we will then send you a link to pay online so that you're registration will be completed.
At the end of the pre-registration form, there's a section for you to ask us questions. You can also contact our team by email at jemfonderie@gmail.com.
At the end of the pre-registration form, there's a section for you to ask us questions. You can also contact our team by email at jemfonderie@gmail.com.
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